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Lightning strikes twice: Des Moines man wins second big lottery prize this year

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A central Iowa business owner has claimed a big lottery prize for the second time this year. Tom Clark went to Iowa Lottery headquarters Thursday to claim the top prize available in the “$250,000 Riches” scratch game. In February, the 63-year-old Clark claimed a $77,777 prize from another scratch ticket game. “I’m extra lucky. This is unbelievable,” Clark said. The most recent winning ticket was purchased Thursday morning at a Des Moines convenience store.

Clark, who co-owns Clark Glass, Inc. with his brothers, said he was in a hurry so he just scratched off the bar code of the $20 ticket so that he could check it right away using a self-scanner inside the store. “I just slid it in there to see it, if it was a winner or not, and it came up $250,000,” Clark said. “I thought, ‘what? no way!'” He then scratched off the entire ticket and verified that he had indeed won $250,000.

Clark plans to use his lottery winnings to pay off his mortgage and save for retirement. “I’m just going to enjoy life from now on,” Clark said.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

HHS secretary, in Iowa, talking with governors about opioid crisis

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A top Obama Administration official will meet with many of the nation’s governors in Des Moines today (Friday) to discuss the opioid epidemic. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell says as many as 78 Americans overdose on heroin or prescription painkillers every day. “I’m from the state of West Virginia where it is a particularly acute issue,” Burwell says. “But it is a problem all over the nation and the governors have been very active partners.”

The National Governors Association summer meeting is underway today (Friday) in Des Moines. Forty-five of the nation’s governors signed a “compact” this week, pledging to encourage treatment and recovery for addicts. They agreed to issue warnings about the danger of over-prescribing painkillers, too. Burwell says there appears to be a growing recognition this is a public health issue.

“The real dynamic, changing thing we need right now is an ability to get the states the resources they need to actually treat people,” Burwell says, “so our law enforcement officials are not the point of treatment in terms of overdose time and time again.” Burwell’s also the head of the federal agency in charge of implementing the Affordable Care Act.

She visited a Fort Dodge hospital Thursday afternoon to discuss health care access. Burwell says about 14 percent of rural Americans do not have insurance, compared to a 22 percent uninsured rate in rural America before the law took effect. “Here at Fort Dodge what we see is the example of how we can make even more progress,” Burwell says, “especially in the areas of affordability and increasing quality.”

Burwell praised UnityPoint Health in Fort Dodge for joining an “accountable care organization” that has emphasized regular check-ups and health screenings. Those steps have reduced the most expensive kind of treatment: emergency room visits.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Road looks tougher for Cubs in second half

Sports

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

UNDATED (AP) — The second half of the Major League Baseball season gets underway today (Friday), when the All-Star break ends with a 15-game schedule. The Cubs raced out to a seven-game lead at the break by playing the second-easiest schedule in the majors. But things might get a little tougher for the NL Central leaders in next few weeks.

Chicago returns from the All-Star break with three games against AL-leading Texas and then plays the Mets, Brewers, White Sox and Mariners to close out July. All but Milwaukee are over .500 and competing for playoff spots.

St. Louis opens the season’s second-half at home, hosting Miami starting tonight. The Kansas City Royals will be on the road at Detroit.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, July 15th 2016

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governors from across the U.S. are expected to discuss international trade and the opioid crisis when they meet in Iowa on Friday. About half of the nation’s governors are in Des Moines for the summer meeting of the National Governors Association. They are expected to talk about the benefits of foreign trade and their plans to prevent overdose deaths involving pain relievers and heroin.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police are scouring a small eastern Iowa lake looking for additional human remains, weeks after a decomposed human foot was found near a spillway. The Hawk Eye reports that Burlington police searched Lake West by kayak this week looking for additional body parts. Police Major Dennis Kramer says investigators have been using various techniques to search the lake in northwest Burlington, including pumping water from the five-acre lake.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwest Iowa say they are investigating the discovery of a human skull near the Raccoon River in southern Sac County. The skull was found Monday afternoon.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods says it’s willing to pay $400,000 to end its lease on a northwest Iowa plant it closed in 2014. Tyson says ending its interests in the building should help the owner and economic development officials market the site to other users.

Posted in News |

Hamburg man arrested on assault & other charges Thu. evening

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Fremont County responded to a reported “large fight in progress,” Thursday evening, in Hamburg. The fight was said to have involved several individuals, possibly armed with weapons. The incident took place in the 600 block of Main Street, in Hamburg.

Clayton Parsons

Clayton Parsons

Following an investigation, deputies arrested 28-year old Clayton Parsons, of Hamburg, on charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault, 2nd Offense, Simple Assault, and Disorderly Conduct.

Deputies determined that no weapons were actually involved or displayed during the incident. Parsons was being held without bond at the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Posted in News |

District Baseball Scores from Thursday, July 14th

Sports

July 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Class 1A

District 1
Lawton-Bronson 8, West Monona 1
Ar-We-Va 7, West Harrison 6

District 13
Martensdale-St. Marys 4, Lynnville-Sully 2
Wayne 11, Central Decatur 0 (5 innings)

District 14
Lenox 12, Bedford 2 (6 innings)
Nodaway Valley 6, Orient-Macksburg 5

District 15
Coon Rapids-Bayard 3, Exira-EHK 2
Audubon 3, CAM 2

District 16
St. Albert 12, Griswold 1 (5 innings)
Tri-Center 11  Nishnabotna 10 (8 innings)

Posted in Sports |

DARYL DEE “JACK” SLAMA, 85, of Griswold (Mem. Svcs. 7/16/16)

Obituaries

July 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DARYL DEE “JACK” SLAMA, 85, of Griswold, died July 9th, at home. Memorial services for JACK SLAMA will be held 10-a.m. Sat., July 16th, at the Griswold United Methodist Church. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold has the arrangements.

A lunch will be served at the Griswold United Methodist Church, following the Memorial Service.

Interment will be at the Griswold Cemetery.

JACK SLAMA is survived by:

His sister – Donna Bohms, of Clive.

His step children: Mike (Diane) Ashbaugh, of Council Bluffs; Kathy (Obert) Heilaman, of Grove, OK; Janiece Jensen, of Denver, CO; Pam Binns, of Red Oak, and Keith (Jan) Ashbaugh, of Fairfax, MO.

His step grandchildren; his step great-grandchildren; his step great-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

2 injured in Ringgold County motorcycle accident Thursday morning

News

July 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An accident in west central Ringgold County involving two motorcycles early Thursday morning, resulted in two people being transported to area hospitals. The Iowa State Patrol says late model Harley Davidson motorcycles driven by 62-year old Galen R. White, of Kent, and 56-year old Michael A. Fry, of Creston, were traveling north on Ringgold County Road P-33 at around 12:50-a.m., when one of the drivers went to pass the other. The cycles collided, causing both to lose control. One of the motorcyclists was ejected from their cycle.

White was transported by Mercy 1 helicopter to Mercy Hospital. Fry was taken by ambulance to the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt. Ayr. A report on their conditions was not released.

Posted in News |

Missing drug dog found

News

July 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Updating our earlier story, the Stuart Police Department reports their missing drug dog “Chloe” has been found and returned to her owner. Officials thank everyone who looked for her. The Black Lab was being watched by a neighbor while her handler was on vacation. When the neighbor took her outside, Chloe got loose and ran away. But again, the dog has been found.

Posted in News |

New emergency department for VA hospital in Des Moines

News

July 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A new $10 million emergency department was dedicated today (Thursday) at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. Roughly 1,000 veterans a month arrive at the Des Moines facility needing emergency treatment. Dan Gannon chairs the Iowa Commission for Veterans Affairs. “I think it’s very positive because we feel very strongly here in Iowa about our VA hospital,” Gannon said. “We think it’s one of the best. It’s just another sign of them trying to improve their facility and…that story isn’t always being told.”

Des Moines VAThe new addition includes a designated space for infectious disease care, decontamination showers, and eight private treatment rooms. Leanne Haiwick will manage 20 emergency room nurses. “This is a larger space with private rooms. One room is a dedicated mental health observation room, so it’s a safe space for anybody who’s undergoing a mental health crisis,” Haiwick said. The Des Moines VA facility treats an average of 33 emergency patients a day.

(Radio Iowa)

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